Dubai Rally prepares for top speeds among the dunes

Race on World Cup calendar for first time

(ANSAmed) - NAPLES, MARCH 7 - The Dubai International Rally
is set to take off at full speed on the dunes of the Al Qudra
desert starting March 9, with "all the ingredients for a
spectacular rally high dunes, small promontories, great sandy
plains", said Dubai Automobile Club president Mohammed Ben
Sulayem.

The Dubai Rally, which runs through March 11, is the oldest
motorsport event in the United Arab Emirates, being staged
annually since the late 1970s and organized by the UAE
Automobile Club since 1997.

This year it is also taking place as a round of both the FIA
World Cup for Cross Country Rallies (alongside the Abu Dhabi
Desert Challenge) and the FIM Baja World Cup.

Cars, motorcycles, buggies and quads will compete in the
Dubai desert, featuring stars of the international rally scene
like Sam Sunderland, who won the Dakar 2017 on motorcycle and is
back on his Red Bull KTM in Dubai.

Competing against him are 37 bikers from around the world.

Sunderland, the first English rider to win at Dakar, lives in
Dubai and knows the course and its terrain well.

"After Dakar I didn't race much, but now I feel ready for
this challenge," he said.

Polish driver Aron Domzala will sit alongside copilot Szymon
Gospodarczyk in their Toyota, after taking victory in the
opening round of the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies at
the Baja Russian Northern Forest Rally.

There's no shortage of local champions, however, with Adel
Hussain Abdulla of Qatar leading among them aboard his Nissan,
while UAE fans can cheer for Mohammad Al Balooshi.

Also among the car favorites is Nasser Al Attiyah, who won
twice at Dakar and will be at the wheel of his Toyota Hilux.

In all, there are 14 UAE drivers, in a sport that has always
had widespread enthusiasm among fans on the Arab peninsula.

Following the Dubai Rally, racing will remain in the region
for the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge scheduled from April
1-7.(ANSAmed).